Europe is plunging into uncharted territory. With an expanded NATO, and plans for a unified currency, the continent is struggling to overcome decades of nationalistic rivalries. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, what does it mean to be European? Also, the strange case of Turkey - is it part of Europe or Asia?

SEGMENT 1

Tony Judt teaches history at New York University and is the author of "A Grand Illusion? An Essay on Europe." He tells Steve Paulson that what the countries of Eastern Europe really want is membership in the Eurpean Union, not NATO and that the idea of a unified Europe is just that -- an idea, not a practical possibility. Also, cultural historian Paul Fussell tells Judith Strasser that Europeans are still traumatized by their experiences of the two world wars; that he doesn't understand what NATO is all about; and that Europeans disdain American culture because it threatens all the things they value.

SEGMENT 2:

Journalist Ted Simon tells Jim Fleming why he went to Eastern Europe, and what he found there. He says Russians are optimistic while Romania has completely collapsed. Simon is the author of "The Gypsy in Me: From Germany to Romania in Search of Youth, Truth and Dad."

SEGMENT 3:

Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk tells Steve Paulson about his new book, "A New Life," which tells the story of a young man travelling across Turkey. Pamuk rejects the idea that Turkey must be either Asian or European. The reality of Turkish society and identity, he says, is far more complex.

Distribution dates:

• week of 07/27/97 - hour 1